UN sends help for 30,000 flood victims in Kenya

7 January 2010  The United Nations is sending health care kits and other supplies for 30,000 victims of massive flooding in Kenya, where thousands of others are feared to be at risk if heavy rains persist.

Roads, bridges and other infrastructure including schools and businesses have been damaged in northern, central and western Kenya by the rains, which follow a prolonged drought in some areas. Reports also indicate that thousands of livestock have been washed away by the floods and crops harmed although the impact is yet to be fully assessed, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported today.

“General food distribution is required for those affected,” it said. “While some initial distribution has been made at displacement sites, there is need to ensure that sustained assistance is provided to affected populations.”

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is dispatching an inter-agency health kit, enough to assist 30,000 people for one month, as well as 50 drums of chlorine powder, 20 pool testers with chemicals, 500 boxes of water purification chemicals, 1,500 jerry cans and 200,000 chlorine tablets to Turkana district.

Access to affected villages has been challenging and only possible through four-wheel drive vehicles.

The Government is leading coordination of the response, supported by the Kenya Red Cross, UNICEF and the Christian relief non-governmental organization (NGO) World Vision on the ground. OCHA is working with all the partners in assessing the level of needs and gaps.